Automatic winding mechanism



Nov. 19, 1957 R. w. scoTT AUTOMATIC WINDING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 16, 1953 INVENTORQ my RAY 567071 Nov. 19, 1957 R. w. SCOTTAUTOMATIC WINDING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16; 1953INVENTOR. /-?AY 66077 Nov. 19, 1957 w sco -r 2,813,345

AUTOMATIC wmpmc MECHANISM Filed ul 16, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet s IN VEN TOR.

RAVI/V 66077 United States Patent AUTOMATIC WINDING MECHANISM Ray,.W.Scott, Lbs Angeles, Calif.

Applicationsluly 16,1953, Serial No. 368,838

10 Claims. (ClL33--132).

This invention relatesto anautomatic .winding mechanism. a

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved windingmechanism incorporating a control for automatically stopping the winderaftera predetermined length of material has been wound.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device of thischaracter utilizing a motor operated slipping transmission in which apreset control simultaneously deenergizes the motor and halts rotationof the winding roller after passage of a predetermined length ofmaterial.

It is another object of this invention. to provide an improvedautomaticlmeasuring; device that can easily be resets.

It' is another objectof this invention to provide an improved traversemechanism for guiding the material upon aspool; or "the like, and thatcan: beeasily adjusted to center-the traverseand also vary the length"of the. traverse sweep;

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel windiiigshaftthat can accommodate either a spool or a flat element 'or 'card,such as of cardboard or the like, upon" which the material is tobewound.For this purpose; the shaft is of bifurcated-form, a cardboard beingcapable of being carried betweenthe bifurcationgand the aperture of aspoolbeing capabl'e ofapassingboth bifurcatibns;

This invention possesses manyzother advantages; and has otherobjectswhic'h maybe made more clearly apparent from: aconsideration: ofone: embodiment of the invention. For this purpose; thereis sh own aform inthe drawings accompanying and forming part of the presentspecification. This form will now: be described in detail,illilstratingthe general principles of the invention; but it is tobeunderstood thatthis detailed description is not' to -be taken inalimiting-sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by theappended claims.

Referring to the drawings? Figure l is an elevation of a deviceincorporating'th'e present invention, some ofithe parts" being brokenaway and others being: shown in' fragmentary section; V

Fig.52 is an enlarged fr agmentarysectional view, taken along the planeindi'catedby Iine Z Z ofFig. 1;"

Fig. 3 is a top plan view: of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

Figs: 4; and: r 5 are fragmentaryelevations," taken in a dir'ectionconresponding' to lirie 4 4='of Fig.- 1 and respectively showingdifferent positions of th'e mechanism; 1 Fig; 6 is a diagrammaticview'showing the structure fon'simult'aneously operating a circuitcont-roller and a brake for the windingshaft;

'Fig; 7 is an elevation of the-traverse mechanism? Fig; 8 -isarr-enlarged sectional View; talien'along the plane'indi'cated by Iine S-S 'of'Fig. 7;

Figs- 9" is a view='showing analternate mode of using theWindiii'gshaft'and- Fig-.ulO- is a-sectionahvi'ew, taken-along aplaneindicated by line 10-10 of Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 1,. a=spool 10;: upon;whichematerial 11, suchxtasbeltllacing; isitobeawoundgiis caririedzib'y a winding shafit 12.. thatprojectsrfronr a housing. "13;

The winding. shaft 12 is operatedfbym=1ransmission mechanism .enclosedwithinrthe casingtllh A' rriotor114 has a shaft .15 for drivinganfriction:wheel 9*of-the:trans mission mechanism;- toggle switchflfitsupported on the casing 13, controls theenergizationnofi the motor 14.

That portion. ofthe'twin'dirigshaft lz' upon which the spool 10* issupported comprises-bifurcations 1 6i and- 17. The bifurcations 16 and17Kboth projct-lthiough thie spool 10. r i

A collar 18, carried 'for' rotation by theshaftlhhasa recess 20'receivi-ng theusual flanged-over inner cylinder 19 of the spool "10:The spool 10 is-c-oupled to' the' winding shaft 12 by friction createdbyi opposite flex'ure otth'e bifurcations 16 '.and 1 7"'to-engage theinner-cylinder 19 of the spool 10: This is accomplished 'bydr'iving awedge or other suitabledevice-2I between the*bifurcations. Conveniently;thelegs of 'a spring-clamp comprise thewedget An inclined shaft 22projecting from thehousing 'lli supportsa material supply sp'ool'23 Ameasuring device- 24 operates a circuil? controll'n25 interposed in theenergizat-i'on *cincuit for the motor I for deenergizing the motor upon"a passage'of "predetermined length of: 1 material 11 on the windingspool 10.

An angularly movable' sh'aft' 26*"( Fi'gsL-2}' 3,4, 5 and-6),appropriately supported-by a bracket 27' secu'redto the base 28 ofthedevice, is connected by a mechanisrnynow tobe described,to'a'strikerrod 29 engageable witha flex-i ible" arm of the circuit -controller 25.The-shaft 26 is freely rotatable irr bearirig= bl'acketsflfl {Fig} 3).The shaft 26-and rod 29 comprisea -trip mechanismddr operringcircuitcontroller 25. Air=overcenter springlihkage mechanism isprovidedfor causing movement of the striker 29hpon-a predeterminedangular movement of the shaft 26. i

As shown most clearly in Figsw 4" and -5yjthe upper end of the striker"29 4s pivotall y secured to-one arm 31 of an angled lev-e'r-oriinkfillThe oth'er arm"33of"the angled lever 32 is pivoted to a -crank 34carried by the shaft 261' For this purposepa pin-34d is provided. Thearms 31 and 33 dfiiie aconcavity'between-therna' A"he1i caltension-spring =35, secured't'o the bracltet 27, engages the arm 31 oftheangled lever 32*to urgethe angled lever 32downwardlyi In the angularpositionof the shaftio 'shbwn in-Fig: 5, the spring 35"exertsafo'rcetending to move the-crank 34' in a counterclockwisedirectionabbutthe'shaftzfi" The concavity between the arms 31 t and 33*perrnitsthe'link' to occupy a position in which the spring exertsa"torque inthisdirectiona Fiirtlierrnore,-- movement in suchcounterclockwise" positionis limited'bywngagement of the shaft 26= with the apex-"of the angledlever-'32:

Upon slight angular movement "of the shaft 26in a clockwisedir'eetiontfnom the*position' shown in Figr 5 the: force exerted by tliespring-35 shifts "from one"side ofthe aXis' ofrotationof thesh'aft' 26io the'other; Ac cordingly, the linkage for the striker mech-ani'smistr'ipped upon a slight angular-movementof theshaft'ztiggand 'thestriker'sudde'nly moves to open the circuitcontrollrQ'Si The position ofthe crank 34='and "the=lever 32' after such tripping movementis-shown'in Figsr 4'and- 6'."

When the shaft 26 istripped, a"wraparound brale band 36 is alsooperatedi Thebandfifii'is canied Iina groove of'the collar 18,"inwhichit mayslip'. A"cra'nk 37 '(Fig; 6), carriedatthe endofihe tripshaft'26,rnoves aconnecting link 38*upwardl'y when thesha'ff26istrippedl The link ssr tates adoglver 39i1pwa'rdly to interp sethe do leveroaifithe pathofrotatioifofaprojection 3 40 formed integrallyon the band 36. The dog lever 39 is pivoted on a bracket 41 mounted onthe housing 13. The dog lever 39 prevents rotation of the brake band 36,and the band 36 wraps around the collar 18 and quickly halts rotation ofthe winding shaft 12.

When the brake hand 36 is operated, the inertia of the motor causesslippage between the motor shaft 15 and the friction wheel 9 of thetransmission mechanism.

The winding shaft 12 is thus stopped simultaneously with the opening :ofthe motor circuit, and precise measuring can be achieved by eliminatingthe inconstant effects of motor inertia and transmission friction.

The measuring device 24 includes a rotatable disc 42 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3).The disc 42, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, mounts an arcuatelydisposed leaf spring 43, the free end of which is spaced from the rearsurface of the disc 42 and forms a projection engageable with an arm 44of the shaft 26 upon suflicient angular movement of disc 42. The endedge of spring 43 then engages the arm 44 to move the shaft 26 and tripthe crank 34 and lever 32 when the disc 42 moves clockwise to adefiniteangular position.

The leaf spring 43-is adjustably secured to the disc 42 by a bolt andelongate slot (Fig. 10) so that the angular position of the spring 43 onthe disc 42 may be accurately adjusted.

The disc 42 is frictionally mounted on a shaft 45 that is supported forrotation on the bracket 27 (Fig. 2). The shaft 45 and the disc 42frictionally coupled thereto are driven by a transmission that isoperated directly in accordance with the amount of material 11 beingwound. After first positioning the disc 42 counterclockwise from shafttripping position and resetting the shaft 26 and the trip device to theposition of Fig. to close the circuit controller 25, the windingmechanism is started by throwing the main switch 16. The mechanism thenautomatically stops after passage of material in an amount directlyproportional to the initial setting of the frictionally mounted disc 42.calibrations 51 on the face of the disc 42 cooperate with an indicator52 secured to the bracket 27, and permit the operator accurately to setthe mechanism. The tripping may be made to correspond precisely to azero indication by adjustment of the angular position of the leaf spring43 on the disc 42.

The leaf spring 43 makes it possible to reset the mechanism in anydesired sequence. If the shaft 26 and trip mechanism are first reset bya reset lever 90 (Fig. 1), the spring 43 may move in a resetting orcounterclock Wise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, without disturbing theshaft 26 from its reset position. In the event that the leaf spring 43engages the arm 44 in such movement, the leaf spring 43 flexes towardthe disc 42 until the end of the leaf spring 43 clears the arm 44. Theengagement between the spring 43 and the arm 44 is ineffective to movethe arm 44 since the shaft is then in the limiting position of Fig. 5.

.without overcoming the torque of the reduction gearing.

For this purpose, apertured friction members 53 are disposed on oppositesides of the disc 42. The shaft 45 passes through an aperture in thedisc 42 and through the friction members 53. The frictionmembers 53 areaccommodated between washers 55. A cap nut 54, threadedly accommodatedon the shaft45, engages the outer washer to urge the assembly against aspacer sleeve 56 and lightly compress resilientmernbers 53 frictionallyto hold the 4 measuring disc 42 in place. A set screw 57 locks the capnut 54 in an adjusted position.

In the position shown in Fig. 2, the mechanism is being operated, andthe shaft 26 is in an angular position corresponding to Fig. 5.

Upon rotation of the control disc 42 in a clockwise direction, as viewedin Fig. 1, the projection 43 engages the arm 44 to angularly move theshaft 26 and trip the mechanism.

A transverse mechanism is provided for appropriately guiding thematerial onto the spool 10. The traverse mechanism is shown most clearlyin Figs. 7 and 8.

A traversing arm 58 comprises two parts 75 and 76 adjustably securedtogether to determine, within limits, an effective combined length ofthe arm 58. The lower part 76 is rod-like and circular in section, andits upper end is threadedly received in an aperture of a transverseflange 77 of the upper arm. A set screw 78 secures the parts '75 and 76in an adjusted position.

The arm 58 is mounted for angular movement about an axis 78 spaced fromand extending in a direction normal to the axis of the winding roller inorder that a movable portion of the arm 58 sweeps substantially axiallyof the spool. A bracket 59 carried by the base 28 provides a bearing fora bent end of the lower part 76 of the traversing arm 58.

The upper part 75 of the traversing arm 58 terminates in upwardlyextending bifurcations 60. The material 11 between the winding spool 10and the measuring pulley 48 is guided by the bifurcations 60. Adjustmentof the length of the traversing arm 58 properly locates the bifurcationswith respect to the winding spool 10.

For reciprocating the traversing arm 58 about the axis 78, a linkagesystem is provided. A reciprocating lever arm 61 is of two-partconstruction, the parts 79 and 80 being adjustably secured together tovary the effective length of the reciprocating lever 61. For thispurpose, the lower part 80 is of circular cross section slidablyaccommodated in an aperture of a transverse flange 81 of the upper part79. A set screw 82 secures the parts 79, 80 in an adjusted position.

The two-part reciprocating lever arm 61 is pivotally mounted at itsupper end on a bracket 62. The movable end of the reciprocating leverarm 61 has a swivel socket member 63 threadedly receiving one end of aconnecting link 64. The other end of the connecting link 64 is pivotallyconnected to the traversing arm 58. For this purpose, a nut 66,threadedly accommodated on the threaded portion of rod 76, has a reducedcylindrical extension 83 mounting a relatively rotatable ring 84. A snapring 99 enters a groove in this extension, and prevents relativelongitudinal movement between the adjusting nut 66 and the ring 84. Theend of the connecting link 64 passes with substantial clearance throughaperture 85 of the ring 84. The connecting link 64 carries an abutmentcollar 65 abutting the ring.

A tension spring 67, secured at one end to the casing 13, engages abracket 68 carried by the traversing arm 58 to urge the entire linkagemechanism toward the right,- as viewed in Fig. 7, and in such directionas to maintain the collar 65 and ring 84 in engagement.

The reciprocating lever arm 61 is operated by a crown cam 69 that isuniformly rotated by the transmission. The crown cam 69 engages a camfollower roller 86 carried by the upper part 79 of the reciprocatinglever arm 61. The cam follower roller 86 is maintained in engagementwith the crown cam 69 by the tension spring 67.

Upon rotation of the cam 69, the arm 61 and connecting link 64reciprocate to move the traverse arm 58 between definite angularpositions indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 7. These angularpositions of the traversing arm 58 are determined by the pitch of thecrown cam 69 and the geometric relationships of the linkage system.

The sweep: or amountof angular movement of the traversing arm 58 dependsupon the location along the length of the traversing, arm 58 atwhichconnection is effected with the connecting link 64. Adjustment of thelength ofthe sweep of the traversing arm 58' is effected withinsubstantial limits by moving the adjusting nut '66 longitudinallyoftherod 76. Such adjustment shifts the position of the ring 84' alongthe length of the traversing arm58, downward movement of the nut 66increasing the sweepfor a given stroke of the connecting link 64. Thenut 66 'can be rotated despite 'the continuous connection between thetraversingarm58 and the link 64 by virtue ofthe fact that the collar 84effecting; the connection need notrotate with the nut 66, but it isnevertheless moved longitudinally therewith;

Adjustment of the sweep of thetraversing arm can also be accomplished bychanging the stroke of the connecting link 64. This is accomplished byadjusting the length of the two-part reciprocable lever 61; Increasingthe length of the reciprocable lever 6l increases the stroke of theconnecting link 64 to increase the sweepof the traversing arm 58;

A substantial range of angular movement of theatraversing arm canbeaccomplished by adjustment both of the nut 66 and the two-partreciprocating lever61.

In order to center the sweep: of the traverse arm 58 with respectto thespool 10, the operating length of the connecting link 64 is varied.Thus; for instance, if the collar 65 carried by the connecting link 64is moved to the: right; the central position of the traversing arm ismoved toward the right along the length of the spool 10. The threadedconnection between the connecting link 64 and the reciprocating leverarm 61 permits such adjustment. Such adjustment is accomplished bymanipulating a knurled knob 71 formed at the left-hand end of theconnecting link 61, as viewed in Fig. 7.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 9, the shaft 12, the bifurcations 16 and17, and the collar 18 may receive a card 100 in place of a spool 10. Thecard 100 is inserted between the bifurcations 16 and 17 and into adiametrically extending slot 101 of the collar 18. The clamp 21 movesthe bifurcations 16 and 17 together to engage the card 100 and properlymaintain the latter in position on the shaft 12.

The inventor claims;

1. In a winding mechanism: a rotary structure provided with an elementupon which the material is wound; an electric motor; a transmissionmechanism between the motor and the structure including a friction drivecapable of slipping when the rotary structure is restrained; a brake forrestraining the rotary structure; a circuit controller for the motor;means responsive to the winding of a definite measure of the material onthe element for operating the circuit controller to deenergize themotor; and means operating substantially simultaneously with theoperation of the circuit controller for applying the brake for causingslippage of the transmission mechanism.

2. In a winding mechanism: a rotary structure for winding material; amotor; a frictional coupling between the motor and the rotary structureand capable of slipping when the rotary structure is restrained; a brakefor the rotary structure; a movable measuring element; means effecting atransmission between said material and said element for moving saidmeasuring element; a circuit controller for the motor; a mechanism foroperating said brake; and means for simultaneously operating saidmechanism and said circuit controller upon a predetermined movement ofsaid measuring element.

3. In rotary apparatus: a rotary structure; a motor; a friction couplingbetween the motor and the rotary structure; a wrap-around brake bandloosely mounted upon said rotary structure and rotated thereby; aprojection carried by the brake band at one end thereof and describing acircular path of movement; a member movable into and out of the path ofmovement of said projection; a

trip 'mech'anismfor moving'said movable member; and an actuator membermovable'in response to the existence of a condition for tripping thetrip mechanism.

4. In rotary apparatus: a rotary structure; a motor; a friction couplingbetween the motor and the rotary strucure; a wrap-around brake bandloosely mountedupon saidrotary structure and rotated thereby; aprojection carried by the brake band at one end thereof and describing acircular path of movement; a member movable into and out of the path ofmovement of said projection; a circuit controller for the, motor; a tripmechanism for moving said movable member and for ope-rating said ohcuitcontroller; and an actuator member movable in response to' theexistenceof a condition for tripping the trip mechanism:

5. In a measuring device: a rotatable shaft; a plate; meansfrictionally, coupling said plate to said shaft forrotation therewith;said plate having indicating markings thereon; means for rotating saidshaft, including a pulley; meansfor guiding flexible material about saidpulley; a trip mechanism for operating a control device, and includinganangularly movable arm; and a leaf spring secured to the plate and havinga free end extending away from the plate when said spring is unflexed;said arm being in the path of movement of said free end of said springand moved thereby when said .plate and spring move to a definite.angular position.

61 In a measuring device: a rotatable shaft; a plate; means frictionallycoupling said plate to said shaft for rotation therewith; said platehaving indicating markings thereon; means for rotating said shaft,including a pulley; means for guiding flexible material about saidpulley; a trip mechanism for operating a control device, and includingan angularly movable arm; a leaf spring; and means adjustably securingsaid leaf spring to said plate for limited angular movement thereon,said leaf spring having a free end extending away from the plate whensaid spring is unflexed; said arm being in the path of movement of saidfree end of said spring and moved thereby when said plate and springmove to a definite angular position.

7. In a winding mechanism: a rotary structure for winding material; ameasuring element movable in accordance with the amount of materialbeing wound; a controller for the rotary structure; a trip mechanism foroperating the controller, comprising: an angularly positionable shaft, acrank carried by the shaft; a link having arms extending on one side ofthe link to define a concavity between the arms, means pivotallyconnecting one arm. to the crank, a tension spring connected to theother arm and urging the link in one direction away from said shaft, anoperating arm carried by said shaft; a connection between said link andsaid controller; and means carried by said measuring element for movingsaid operating arm when said measuring element is in one position.

8. In a winding mechanism: a rotary structure for winding material; amotor for rotating said structure; a friction coupling between saidmotor and said rotary structure; a wrap-around brake band looselycarried by said rotary structure for rotation therewith, said bandhaving a projection at one end thereof; a circuit for the motor,including a circuit controller; a measuring device movable in accordancewith the length of material wound upon said structure; an angularlypositionable shaft; a crank carried by the shaft; a link having armsdefining a concavity between them; means pivotally connecting one arm tothe crank; a tension spring connected to the other arm and urging saidlink in one direction away from said shaft; said link engaging saidshaft and defining a limiting angular position of said shaft in whichsaid spring biases said shaft in said limiting position; an operatng armcarried by the shaft for moving said shaft away from said limitingposition and toward a position in which said spring urges said shaftaway from said limiting position; means carried by the measuring devicefor moving the arm when said device reaches a definite position; adogging projection .engageable with the projection for causing the bandto ing material; a measuring element movable in accordance with theamount of material being wound; a controller for the rotary structure; atrip mechanism for operating the controller, comprising: an angularlypositionable shaft; means determining one limited angular position ofthe shaft; a spring connected ec-centrically to the shaft to providealternate stable positions of the shaft and an intermediate unstablecentral position, one stable position corresponding to said limitedposition; an operating arm carried by the shaft; means operated uponmovement of the shaft away from said limited position and beyond saidcentral position for operating said controller; and a 10st motionconnection between said measuring element and said operating arm formoving the shaft away from said one limited position upon apredetermined movement of said element.

10. In a winding mechanism: a rotary structure'for winding material; amotor for rotating said structure; a friction coupling between saidmotor and said rotary structure; a wrap-around brake band looselycarried by said rotary structure for rotation therewith, said bandhaving a projection at one end thereof; a circuit for the motor,including a circuit controller; a measuring device movable in accordancewith the length of material wound upon said structure; an angularlypositionable shaft; means determining one limited angular position ofthe shaft; a spring connected eccentrically to the shaft to providealternate stable positions thereof and an intermediate unstable centralposition, one stable position corresponding to said one limitedposition; an operating arm carried by the shaft; means operated uponmovement of the shaft away from said limited position and beyond saidcentral position for operating said controller; a dogging projectioncooperable with said band projection; means operated upon movement ofsaid shaft away from said limited position formoving said doggingprojection into dogging position; and a lost motion connection betweensaid measuring device and said operating arm for moving said shaft awayfrom said one limited position upon a predetermined movement of saiddevice.

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